First ever pig heart transplanted into human patient a medical first

Jan 11 2022

In a historic medical first, Maryland doctors have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig’s heart into a human patient in a last-ditch effort to save his life. Doctors at the University of Maryland medical centre stated on Monday that the patient was doing well three days after the highly experimental surgery. However, it is too soon to know if the operation has been a success.

However, whether a scientific victory or not, the transplant marks a massive step ahead in the quest to one day use animal organs to conduct life saving operations. Doctors said the transplant shows a heart from a genetically modified animal can function in the human body without immediate rejection.

David Bennett, the 57-year-old patient, knew that there was no guarantee the experiment would work. However, he was dying, ineligible for a human heart transplant and had no other option. He described it as a shot in the dark which could potentially just have worked. On Monday, the patient was breathing on his own while still connected to a heart-lung machine to help his new heart. The next few weeks will be critical as Bennett recovers from the surgery.

Scientific director of the university’s animal-to-human transplant program Dr Muhammad Mohiuddin said that if this works, there will be an endless supply of these organs for patients who are suffering. Previous transplants from animals failed, particularly one in 1984 wherein a dying infant lived 21 days with a baboon heart.

What could be different this time is the fact that the pig heart underwent gene-editing to be more suitable in a human body. Doctors are still cautioning it as a tentative step into exploring whether this type of procedure, called xenotransplantation, finally works. What do you think?

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Should we send a Maltese song to the Eurovision Song Contest in Turin?

Jan 11 2022

As we take our first steps in 2022 and look forward to what the new year has in store, the majority of Malta has seemingly caught a case of Eurovision fever. Mirroring the excitement of Eurovision fans from Malta and beyond, a number of local artists submitted their songs, with 3 of the 22 semi-finalists presenting songs in Maltese.

So far, the official Eurovision Song Malta page has published 20-second clips of the artists’ songs, but from the little information we have, we know that the three local artists who will be presenting songs in Maltese are Aidan with ‘Ritmu’, Derrick with ‘II’ and Nicole Hammett with ‘A Lover’s Heart.’

While songs in our native language are not an entirely new concept to the Eurovision Song Malta competition, one could argue that some people may be hesitant on Malta hitting the grand Eurovision stage with a Maltese song… but they shouldn’t be. Beyond Maltese being a beautiful language which tells the story of Malta’s past, countries presenting songs in something other than English have not necessarily seen negative results. Since its 1956 launch, 36 songs have emerged victorious with songs performed in something other than English with languages including French, Italian, Portuguese and Crimean Tatare. Since it started taking part in 1971, Malta has only sent two song in Maltese to the Eurovision Song Contest, with Joe Grech performing ‘Maria l-Maltija’ in 1971 and Helen and Joseph hitting the stage with ‘L-imħabba’ the following year.

Locally, Maltese music has been performing well on the charts and beyond, with The Travellers, Aidan, Amber, Carlo Gerada, The Victorians & Lapes and many more achieving local number 1 hits. With that in mind, we only have one question: what do we have to lose? Malta reportedly holds the record for the longest wait for a Eurovision win, not for lack of trying, and many could argue that a Maltese song may be the key to Malta’s Eurovision dream… but only time will tell.

The Malta Eurovision Song Contest will air on TVM between the 17th and 19th of February, with 16 finalists being chosen by a jury and public vote on the first night and the winner (who will ultimately represent Malta in Turin) being determined during the Final night on February 19th.

What do YOU think? Should we send a Maltese song to Turin or stick to English?

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Online service for permit applications to be offered by 22 local councils

Jan 11 2022

22 different local councils will be issuing online permits through a new digital portal with a government investment of up to €100,000.

Natalino Attard, local government director general, said that the number of local councils to be using this service will massively increase by the end of 2022. Through the website local permit.gov.mt, the public does not need to personally go to a local council office for a permit.

Concerning everything from closure of roads or the use of cranes/lifters, the central website which will give citizens easy access came following various complaints by citizens of having to apply but being unable to go to council offices.

Minister José Herrera stated that this is one of the new services in a wider digital strategy drafted recently for local councils. The Local Government and Culture minister said that the need has been felt to update the way that local councils operate in order to make it more accessible to citizens.

With this being more needed during a pandemic, the investment ‘is substantial’ said the Minister. ‘There are over €800,000 form central funds and also €15,000 from 68 councils and regions, which amount to all cost another million euros from European funds. That is almost €2 million investment in ICT.’

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Giving out plastic shopping bags will result in fines

Jan 11 2022

As of this year, it is no longer permitted for a shop to offer customers a plastic bag for shopping. The only exceptions are re-usable or biodegradable bags, with the same applying for single-use plastic bags or styrofoam (jablo) containers.

The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) as well as Customs will be carrying out the enforcement required in order to ensure that no more single use plastic enters Malta. Fines will in the mean time be imposed on anyone who breaks this law.

As of the 1st of January of last year, the local manufacturing and importation of plastic bags was halted. The placement of certain single use product on the market such as cutlery and straws was also stopped. As of 2022, other measures will be coming into effect which aim to reduce single use plastic products.

The use of single use plastics which were already in the country was allowed up until December. The 24th of February will see their distribution, consumption as well as sale disallowed.

ERA’s Marie Claire Cappello said that Customs will be carried out by Customs to ensure that more more single use plastic products enter the country. Bags which are less than 50 microns thick can no longer be used for commerce, whether or not they are free or against payment. Light plastic bags which are less than 15 microns thick can still be used for hygienic purposes.

Thin plastic bags can therefore be used to package food. However, they cannot be used to place non-food products. Reusable plastic bags which are biodegradable compostable can be used.

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